Designing plasmonically integrated nanoreactors for efficient catalysis

Abstract

Plasmonically coupled nanoreactors capable of harnessing light energy and efficiently transforming it to perform chemical reactions are in significant demand in the field of catalysis. The development of unique solution-phase synthesis techniques for engineering intricate nanoarchitectures by introducing multiple functionalities can dramatically improve the efficacy of these nanostructures. In this context, the precise modulation of the nanostructural features and the integration of other components with the plasmonic nanoparticles within an isolated nanoconfined reaction environment is the current state of the art for their synthesis. This account highlights our achievements in designing different synthesis strategies and elucidating the mechanistic pathways involved in the development of plasmonically integrated nanoreactors. The range of applications of these plasmonic nanoreactors, which employ plasmon-induced energy for catalytic transformations, is also discussed.